Croatia's Ivan Bebek to ref Real Madrid-Shakhtar Donetsk
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.Croatian official Ivan Bebek, Poland's Szymon Marciniak and Pavel Královec of the Czech Republic, have been selected by Uefa to referee the Champions League matches between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray and Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla-Borussia Monchengladbach, in Tuesday's opening round of fixtures in the Champions League.
Bebek, 38, is an economist by profession and has been an international referee since 2003. The Croat has never officiated a match featuring Real Madrid before but has been in charge of European games involving Espanyol, Atlético de Madrid, Villarreal, Athletic and Barcelona; He also refereed Finland-Spain during Euro 2014 qualification.
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Marciniak, 34, has been a Uefa official since 2011 and has never whistled an Atlético match. Among his European games have been Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Sociedad. None of the matches ended in victory for the Spanish side: two draws at the Sánchez Pizjuán and Mestalla, and an away loss for La Real.
Královec, a 30-year-old engineer, has been refereeing at the highest level since 2005 and has the most Spanish experience of the three, officiating Racing de Santander and Deportivo in the Uefa Cup in 2008-09, as well as Villarreal, Atlético, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
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.Croatian official Ivan Bebek, Poland's Szymon Marciniak and Pavel Královec of the Czech Republic, have been selected by Uefa to referee the Champions League matches between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray and Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla-Borussia Monchengladbach, in Tuesday's opening round of fixtures in the Champions League.
Bebek, 38, is an economist by profession and has been an international referee since 2003. The Croat has never officiated a match featuring Real Madrid before but has been in charge of European games involving Espanyol, Atlético de Madrid, Villarreal, Athletic and Barcelona; He also refereed Finland-Spain during Euro 2014 qualification.
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Marciniak, 34, has been a Uefa official since 2011 and has never whistled an Atlético match. Among his European games have been Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Sociedad. None of the matches ended in victory for the Spanish side: two draws at the Sánchez Pizjuán and Mestalla, and an away loss for La Real.
Královec, a 30-year-old engineer, has been refereeing at the highest level since 2005 and has the most Spanish experience of the three, officiating Racing de Santander and Deportivo in the Uefa Cup in 2008-09, as well as Villarreal, Atlético, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Manchester City vs Juventus also missing a lot of big names
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Manchester City have fitness concerns over three key players as they look to improve their poor UEFA Champions League home record at the expense of Juventus.
Although Manuel Pellegrini's men have swept all before them domestically thus far this term, they have won just three of their 11 home Champions League games to date, a record that simply must improve if they are to make a serious impact in this season's competition.
But their preparations for Tuesday's visit from the Italian champions have been hindered by injury doubts surrounding Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Raheem Sterling.
Aguero looks to be the most likely absentee after limping off during the first half of Saturday's Premier League win over Crystal Palace with a knee injury.
Pellegrini was not happy with the Scott Dann challenge that prompted the Argentina striker's premature departure and is unsure whether he will recover in time to feature at the Etihad Stadium.
"It was an important kick on his knee," the Chilean said. "We'll see if he can recover between now and Tuesday.
It's very difficult to say now. It's important to see how he recovers. We'll see."
Silva missed the trip to Selhurst Park due to an ankle problem, while Sterling was a late withdrawal after picking up a hamstring strain, but Pellegrini is hopeful that the attacking duo will be fit.
Pablo Zabaleta (knee) and Fabian Delph (hamstring), meanwhile, will definitely be unavailable for the hosts, while promising youngster Kelechi Iheanacho – who netted a late winner against Palace – is not eligible.
Juventus, meanwhile, may welcome the change of competition having made a shocking start to their Serie A campaign.
The Turin side came within seven minutes of a third successive league defeat on Saturday, Paulo Dybala's late penalty eventually salvaging them a point at Chievo, but still they find themselves languishing in the unfamiliar surroundings of 16th place.
To compound coach Massimiliano Allegri's woes, he lost Claudio Marchisio to a thigh injury at half-time and the Italy international midfielder is regarded as a major doubt.
Fellow thigh injury victim Sami Khedira, meanwhile, remains sidelined and is yet to make his competitive debut for Juventus since his close-season move from Real Madrid.
Last season's beaten Champions League finalists have not managed to win on English soil since downing Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1996, but they are unbeaten in their last four away games in this competition.
Paul Pogba is expected to start for Juventus having been very strongly linked with a move to City during the transfer window.
The sides last met in the 2010 UEFA Europa League, when both matches finished 1-1.
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Manchester City have fitness concerns over three key players as they look to improve their poor UEFA Champions League home record at the expense of Juventus.
Although Manuel Pellegrini's men have swept all before them domestically thus far this term, they have won just three of their 11 home Champions League games to date, a record that simply must improve if they are to make a serious impact in this season's competition.
But their preparations for Tuesday's visit from the Italian champions have been hindered by injury doubts surrounding Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Raheem Sterling.
Aguero looks to be the most likely absentee after limping off during the first half of Saturday's Premier League win over Crystal Palace with a knee injury.
Pellegrini was not happy with the Scott Dann challenge that prompted the Argentina striker's premature departure and is unsure whether he will recover in time to feature at the Etihad Stadium.
"It was an important kick on his knee," the Chilean said. "We'll see if he can recover between now and Tuesday.
It's very difficult to say now. It's important to see how he recovers. We'll see."
Silva missed the trip to Selhurst Park due to an ankle problem, while Sterling was a late withdrawal after picking up a hamstring strain, but Pellegrini is hopeful that the attacking duo will be fit.
Pablo Zabaleta (knee) and Fabian Delph (hamstring), meanwhile, will definitely be unavailable for the hosts, while promising youngster Kelechi Iheanacho – who netted a late winner against Palace – is not eligible.
Juventus, meanwhile, may welcome the change of competition having made a shocking start to their Serie A campaign.
The Turin side came within seven minutes of a third successive league defeat on Saturday, Paulo Dybala's late penalty eventually salvaging them a point at Chievo, but still they find themselves languishing in the unfamiliar surroundings of 16th place.
To compound coach Massimiliano Allegri's woes, he lost Claudio Marchisio to a thigh injury at half-time and the Italy international midfielder is regarded as a major doubt.
Fellow thigh injury victim Sami Khedira, meanwhile, remains sidelined and is yet to make his competitive debut for Juventus since his close-season move from Real Madrid.
Last season's beaten Champions League finalists have not managed to win on English soil since downing Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1996, but they are unbeaten in their last four away games in this competition.
Paul Pogba is expected to start for Juventus having been very strongly linked with a move to City during the transfer window.
The sides last met in the 2010 UEFA Europa League, when both matches finished 1-1.
I think its a good guess, my guess is just slightly different as I would put:
1. Bayern
2. Barca
3. City
4. PSG
PLUS:
a)If Arsenal would make true of rumors and buy Icardi in January (which I really hope wont happen), then I would put them in 4th place and move down PSG to 5th
b) I also think United has a good chance to make a long run and make some heads turn (but very slim chance of taking it down), overall a very good gamble if the bet would be that they go far
But in the end like you said its so early to say that these are really just wild guesses. It will be much easier to make a good guess after the group stages are over.
OUR SELECTION OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TALENTS
10 starlets to keep an eye on
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These youngsters are looking to make a name for themselves by bursting on to the scene in this season's Champions League with all of Europe watching on.
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1. Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich). The 19-year-old Frenchman, who is on loan from Juventus, will look to make the most of his opportunities to shine under Pep.
2. Paulo Dybala (Juventus). The striker stood out at Palermo last season with 13 Serie A goals that caught the eye of Juventus, who splashed out 32 million euros on the 21-year-old Argentine.
3. Kurt Zouma (Chelsea). José Mourinho has already touted the Frenchman as one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future. The 20-year-old has been patiently waiting for opportunities at Chelsea and is now featuring in the first-team more regularly.
4. Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain). The lanky 20-year-old signed for PSG in 2012, but spent two years on loan at Toulouse between 2013 and 2015.
5. Max Kruse (Wolfsburg). The striker's target for the year is to match what he achieved last season at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
6. Patrick Roberts (Manchester City). 'The Citizens' signed the promising 18-year-old after he impressed at Fulham. The Englishman will have to convince Manuel Pellegrini in training in order to be given a chance in Europe's biggest club competition.
7. Giannelli Imbula (Porto). The 22-year-old, who signed for the Portuguese side from Marseille in the summer, is looking to become a key midfielder for his new club.
8. Josip Drmic (Borussia Mönchengladbach). The talented 23-year-old has gained a wealth of experience in the Bundesliga in recent seasons.
9. Óliver Torres (Atlético Madrid). The former Porto player is looking to play a key role in Diego Simeone's team this season.
10. Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen). The 19-year-old winger impressed at Wolfsburg before signing for Bayer Leverkusen in 2014.
Read more: 10 starlets to keep an eye on - MARCA.com (English version)
10 starlets to keep an eye on
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
These youngsters are looking to make a name for themselves by bursting on to the scene in this season's Champions League with all of Europe watching on.
.
.
.
1. Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich). The 19-year-old Frenchman, who is on loan from Juventus, will look to make the most of his opportunities to shine under Pep.
2. Paulo Dybala (Juventus). The striker stood out at Palermo last season with 13 Serie A goals that caught the eye of Juventus, who splashed out 32 million euros on the 21-year-old Argentine.
3. Kurt Zouma (Chelsea). José Mourinho has already touted the Frenchman as one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future. The 20-year-old has been patiently waiting for opportunities at Chelsea and is now featuring in the first-team more regularly.
4. Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain). The lanky 20-year-old signed for PSG in 2012, but spent two years on loan at Toulouse between 2013 and 2015.
5. Max Kruse (Wolfsburg). The striker's target for the year is to match what he achieved last season at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
6. Patrick Roberts (Manchester City). 'The Citizens' signed the promising 18-year-old after he impressed at Fulham. The Englishman will have to convince Manuel Pellegrini in training in order to be given a chance in Europe's biggest club competition.
7. Giannelli Imbula (Porto). The 22-year-old, who signed for the Portuguese side from Marseille in the summer, is looking to become a key midfielder for his new club.
8. Josip Drmic (Borussia Mönchengladbach). The talented 23-year-old has gained a wealth of experience in the Bundesliga in recent seasons.
9. Óliver Torres (Atlético Madrid). The former Porto player is looking to play a key role in Diego Simeone's team this season.
10. Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen). The 19-year-old winger impressed at Wolfsburg before signing for Bayer Leverkusen in 2014.
Read more: 10 starlets to keep an eye on - MARCA.com (English version)
